Over the past few years, The New York Times has teamed up with Disney’s FX to create several documentaries, including “Framing Britney Spears” and, most recently,  “Broken Horses.” These have been released on the FX linear channel, along with Hulu and Hulu On Disney+.

However, with many streaming services and linear channels cutting back on their spending on new original content and reducing the number of new documentaries commissioned, according to THR, The New York Times is restructuring its documentary division and will reduce its documentary output, instead focusing the company’s existing sub-brands and verticals. 

The New York Times has been slowly reducing the number of documentaries it produces; in 2019, the company created over 20 films, whereas in 2023, it only released four.

The New York Times Presents is a series of standalone documentaries representing the unparalleled journalism and insight of The New York Times, bringing viewers close to the essential stories of our time. With more than 1,550 journalists reporting from 160 countries, The Times publishes 250 stories a day including investigative reports, political scoops and cultural dispatches.

There are still some more projects in the pipeline to be released, as the New York Times responded to the story saying”

“We just premiered a new film from The New York Times Presents last week, with two additional films presently in production, as well as a separate feature-length documentary that premiered on FX in April.  The Times‘s documentary work has garnered many accolades, including multiple Emmys and an Oscar, and we’ll continue to tell important stories in documentary film and television when they can best expand our journalism.”

With major changes within the industry, it’s not a huge surprise to hear that we might see fewer titles from the New York Times and with Disney creating many of its own original documentaries from its own studios like National Geographic, ABC News Studios, and Onyx Collective, it might have less need for licensed films from the New York Times, especially since the current deal only covers the United States and the original deal with FX was made prior to Disney buying 20th Century Fox.

What do you think of the New York Times slowing down its documentary-making?  Let us know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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